Planetary manual control mechanism



March 19, 1946. J w soN- 2,397,068

PLANETARY MANUAL CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Oct. 14, 1942 Immeufor JOHN M. WILSON.

Gttorneg Patented Mar. 19, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLANETARMYECfiMANAIgIAL CONTROL I Jolin M. Wilson, Minneapolis, Minn., Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator assignor to Company.

Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Delaware Application October 14, 1942, Serial No. 481,970

4 Claims. (01. 74-407) The present invention relates to a manual con- It is an object of the present invention to pro- 1 vide a manual control mechanism of this type in which the device to be positioned, the power means and the manual operating means are permanently and continuously mechanically interconnected, thereby eliminating the use of clutches,

latching mechanisms and the like.

More specifically, the present invention provides an arrangement utilizing a planetary gear mechanism, one portion of which is normally maintained stationary by the manual control apparatus so that the device to be positioned is driven by the power means. desired to position the device manually, the power means becomes the stationary portion of the gear system so that movements of the manual operator produce corresponding movements of the device to be positioned.

Other objects will become apparent upon a reading of the detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a showing of the complete system of my invention with certain parts broken away and others in section to more clearly show the structure thereof,

Fig. 2 is a side view of that part of the apparatus shown in the lower part of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a side view of the upper portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with certain parts in section and others broken away to more clearly illustrate the structure thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the planetary mechanism comprises a substantially circular plate Iii having an arm I i extending therefrom. The plate Hi and arm I! constitute the device or member which is to be positioned or the driven arm of the apparatus. This driven arm ll may be utilized to control any desired apparatus and it is herein contemplated that the arm II will be connected to any suitable heat control mechanism, such for example for use in heating the cabin of an aircraft. Three stud shafts l2, I3 and I4 are $6- cured to the plate H! at equally spaced points on an imaginary circle having the same center as the periphery of the circular plate 10. Mounted upon the stud shafts i2, i3 and H for rotation are planet pinions 15, I6 and H. The stud shafts l2, l3 and I4 extend entirely through the planet pinions l5, l6 and I! and through a plate It which serves to secure the front ends of the stud shafts Further, when it is i l2, l3 and H as viewed in Fig. 1.. Also located between the plates J0 and i8 and meshing with each of the planet pinions l5. I6 and I1 is a sun pinion IS. The sun pinion i 9 is secured to, a tubular bearing member 20 which extends through the plate I8 and terminates at some distance in front of it. The interior of this tubular bearing member 20 is secured to a final driven shaft 2| which is connected to a reversible electric motor 22 of the split phase type through -a suitable reducing gear train 23. The tubular member 20 may be secured to the shaft 2| in any desired manner and is herein shown as keyed thereto at 24. Cooperating with the outer portions of each 6f the planet pinions l5, l6 and I1 is an internal gear 25. This internal gear 25 may be made integral with or be fixedly secured to a cable drum 28.

The cable drum 28 may of itself constitute the manual operator. However, I prefer to have the manual operator capable of being located at a point remote from the planetary mechanism. To this end, I provide a remote manual operator which is connected to the cable drum 28. Referring now to the upper part the remote manual mechanism includes a mounting plate 30 having mounting holes 3! therein by means of which the plate 8| may be secured to any desired part of the aircraft cabin so that the manual operating means can be conveniently operated by the pilot. The lower half of the mounting plate 30 is substantially rectangular in form whereas the upper half thereof isin the form of a semi-circle having teeth or notches 32 formed in the periphery thereof. Secured to and extending backwardly from the mounting plate 30 is a stud shaft 33 upon which a second cable drum is mounted. This cable drum comprises the drum portion proper 84 and the bearing member or hub 35 which rotates upon the stud shaft 83. This hub 35 is retained upon the any suitable manner, such as by the cotter 3B.

A plate 31 is secured to the cable drum 34 by means of screws 38. Formedjntegral with the plate 31 is a cylindrical latch housing 39 provided with an internal bore 40. Closely fitting and slidably mounted within the bore 40 isa cylindrical member 4| having a latch portion 42 adapted to engage the notches formed by the teeth 32. Formed integrally II and extending upwardly therefrom is a shank 43 terminating in a screw-threaded portion 44 to which an operating knob 45 is secured by means of a nut 46. 4 A spring 41 mounted within the pin of Fig. 1 and to Fig. 3.

stud shaft 33 in with the cylindrical member.

When it is desired to rotate the cable drum 3 3 either direction, the operating knob 55 is pulled upwardly against the bias oi spring ll so as to remove the latching portion :12 from one or" the notches between the teeth 32. Then, while the operating knob is still held in its upper position, the whole assembly including the cable drum may be i'otated in either direction through substantially a quarter of a turn. If it is then desired-to lock the cable drum 8 3 in some new position, the manual operating knob ll) is ieleased whereupon the latching portion it enters a different notch between a pair of teeth and the drum 3 3 is thus locked in its new position. cylindrical member ll through a notch ll in the housing to prevent turning of the latching portion ll so that it cannot become crosswise of the teeth For reasons which will appeaiflhereinaiter, it is desirable to break an electrical circuit upon movement of the cable drum 35.011 of its automatic position in which it is shown. To this end, a snap switch having terminals all and 252 is secured to the mounting plate by means of sciews This snap switch has a cylindrical extension which extends through a suitable opening in the mounting plate The snap switch 523 further includes an operating pin or push butt-on which extends through and projects beyond the cylindrical portion 5 3. A switch actuating member having a push button operatlng portion is secured to the cable drum lid in such position that it is engaged with the push button 55 and holds it in its innermost position when the cable drum 3-4 is in the "automatic pmitlon as shown. However, upon slight movement of the cable drum in either direction away from the automatic position, the push button actuating extension bl will move out from under the push button 55 whereupon the push button 55 automatically, through a biasing means contained within the switch 58, moves to its outer position. This switch 553 may be of any suitable typcwherein a circuit is opened whenever the push button is in its outer position to which it is biased and in which such circuit is closed when the push button is held in its innermost position as it is with the parts in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This switch 58 may well take the form disclosed in the co-pending application of A1- bert E. Baak, Serial No. 307,991, filed December '7, 1939, Patent No. 2,318,734, granted May 11, 1943.

' The cable drums 3t and are interconnected by means of "a cable 59. For this purpose, the cable drum 3% is provided with a slot ti and a cable clamping plate 52 which can be held in clamping position by means of a screw to. One end of the cable is clamped by means of the clamping plate 82. The cable is then wound aboutthe cable drum 3% for substantially a complete turn after which it is wound completely about the cable drum 2% and then is again wound about the cabledrum 3d the greater portion or. a turn A pin extends horizontally from the cable on the cable drum 2b, the cable drum is provided with a pair of slots t l and a bin When the cable is wound about the drum it is brought out of one of the slots 5%, wound around the pin and then passe the other slot 5 3 back onto the cable drum 2 It will thus be seen that the cable drum 25 to which the internal gees." is secured is normally held stationary by the latching mechanism for the cable drum 3 1. However, the cable drum 3 3 may be rotated to a limited extent in each direction away from the automatic position and such. rotative movement will be transmitted to the cable drum The operating arm or driven arm ii is capable of being rotated through 120 degrees. The cable drum 3% is capable oibeing rotated 75 degrees either way from its automatic position. Seventy-five degrees rotation of cable drum results in 120 degrees rotation of cable drum 2b because of the relative sizes of these drums, as is generally shown in the drawing.

The power mean; constituting the split phase motor 22 may be controlled in any desired mannor. 1' herein disclose an automatic control system of the temperature responsive type that includes a resistance bridge circuit ill and an electronic amplifier The bridge circuit includes in one arm a temperature responsive re sistance l2 of usual construction the resistance of which increases upon temperature rise. This temperature resistance 72 may respond, for ex-- ample, to the temperature in an aircraft cabin. The three other arms of the bridge circuit inelude fixed resistances it and Those arms which include the fixed resistances M and lb additionally include a variable amount of re-- sistance of a balancing or follow-up potentiometer. This potentiometer includes a balancing resistance it, the left-hand end of which is secured or connected to the lower end of fixed resistance 75 by a, wire ll whereas its rlght-haud end is connected to the lower end of fixed re sistance '16 by a wire it. The balancing resist once it may be suitably carried by this housing.

so that it is stationary and does not move. Co-

iii]

operating with this balancing resistance it is a slider arm 85 which moves in accordance with the movement of plate ill or driven arm ii. For convenience, the slider arm has therefore been shown as attached to the plate it through a piece of insulating material Bl. In actual practice. the motor 22, gear train 23, and planetary mechanism may be conveniently mounted in a housing generally indicated by the dotted line 15.

The electronic amplifier ll includes a pair of terminals 82 and 83 for supplying power to the bridge 10. Terminal 82 is connected to a bridge input terminal 85 by a wire 85. The bridge input terminal 84 comprises the junction of those arms which include the temperature sensitive resistance l2 and the fixed resistance '15. Similarly, amplifier terminal 83 is connected to a bridge input terminal 86 by a wire Bl. The bridge input terminal 86 comprises the junction of those arms of the bridge which includes the fixed resistances l3 and I l. The amplifier ll further includes a pair of amplifier input terminals 33 and 89. Terminal 88 is connected to a bridge output terminal 90 by means of a wire 9i. This terminal 9b constitutes the junction of those arms of the bridge circuit which include the temperature connected to the slider arm 80 by means a wire 92. In addition, the electronic amplifier H includes a pair of incoming power terminals II and 84. Power terminal 83 is directly connected to one wire 95 or any suitable source of alternating current. Terminal 94 is connected by means of a wire 96 to the terminal $2 of switch 50. The terminal 5i thereof is connected to the other wire 91 oi the alternating source of. power.

The resistance bridge Hi, the electronic ampliher Ii and the manner in which they are interconnected may take any of the forms known in the art but I preferably utilize a system oi the type disclosed in the co-pending application 0! Albert P. Upton, Serial No. 437,561, flied April 3, 1942. In the type oi system disclosed in'said Upton application, the split phase motor 22 is provided with the usual two windings. One of these windings is constantly energized. The other winding is deenergized when the bridge circuit is unbalanced. However, upon unbalance oi the bridge circuit in one direction, the second winding of the split phase motor is energized with a current which has a phase leading that of the constantly energized winding whereupon the motor rotates in one direction. On the other hand, when the bridge is unbalanced in the opposite direction, the second winding of the split phase motor is supplied with a current which has a phase which lags that of the constantly energized winding with the result that the motor rotates in the opposite direction.

Automatic operation With the parts in the postion shown, the manual operator is in the "automatic position with the result that the push button BI 01 the switch 50 is in its innermost position and a circuit is closed between terminals ill and 52 of the switch 50. Therefore, power is being supplied to the electronic amplifier 1i. Also, with the parts in the position shown, the temperature of the aircraft cabin is at an intermediate value and the heat control or valve operating arm II is in a position intermediate its possible extreme positions. Similarly, the slider arm 80 is at the center of the balancing resistance 16. Under such conditions, the bridge is in balance and the second winding of the split phase motor 22 is deenergized so that the motor is stationary.

Now let us assume that the temperature in the aircraft cabin rises. Under such conditions the resistance of the temperature sensitive resistance 72 increases and the bridge 10 is unbalanced. As a result, the electronic amplifier ii supplies the second winding of the split phase motor 22 with a current out of phase with that of the constantly energized winding and in such direction that the sun pinion I9 is driven in a clockwise direction. Since the internal gear 25 is. being held stationary by the remotely located manual mechanism, the planet pinions l5, l8 and i! in rotating in a counter-clockwise direction about their respective stud shafts l2, l2 and M,

- circuit-will be rebalanced. When this occurs, the' electronic amplifier II will deenergiae the second winding of thesplit phase motor 22 whereupon rotation of the sun pinion It will cease. Likewise, the plate III will cease its movement. If there should be further rises in the cabin temperature, corresponding clockwise movements of the driven or control arm ll will result.

0n the other hand, it the temperature within the aircraft cabin should fall, the resistance of temperature sensitive resistance I2 decreases. This unbalances the bridge it in the opposite direction. As a result, the electronic amplifier ii energizes the second winding of motor 22 with a current having an opposite phase than occurred upon temperature rise, so that the sun pinion i8 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. Inasmuch as the internal gear 25 is still being held stationary, this counter-clockwise rotation oi the sun pinion i8 results in counter-clockwise rota-= tion of plate it and control arm M. This moves the heat controlvalve towards open position to supply additional heat to the cabin and at the same time causes the slider arm at to move towards the left-hand end of balancing resistance 18. When suflicient counter-clockwise movement of the plate it and therefore the control arm ii and the slider arm as has taken place, the bridge 10 will be rebalanced whereupon the electronic amplifier II will deenergize the second winding of the motor 22 and further counter-clockwise rotation of the sun pinion it will cease. Like wise, the plate ill and accompanying parts also cease their movements.

In this manner, so long as the manual operator is in the "automatic" position so that the internal gear 25 is held stationary, the arm it will be positioned in accordance with the movements of the motor 22, which in this instance are in accordance with temperature fluctuations at tempera- Manual operation It may be desired to take over manual positioning of the arm II at times. This manual positioning may be desired when the electrical system is in operative condition or may be desired when !or some reason or other the electrical system is inoperative.

Let us assume it is desired to increase the temperature in the aircraft cabin manually. Under such conditions, the manual knob 48 is lifted and the manual operator is moved in a counter-clockwise direction (in the direction of the arrow marked warmer). The initial movement 01' the manual operator causes the button actuating member 51 to move away from the push button 55, whereupon it moves outwardly and breaks the circuit between terminals 5i and 52 of the switch 50. Breaking of this circuit interrupts the power supplied to the electronic amplifier 'H so that the motor 22 remains stationary irrespective of whether or not the electrical system is otherwise in operative condition. The counterclockwise movement of the manual operator is transmitted to the cable drum 26 through the cable 60 so that the cable drum 26 and associated internal gear 25 likewise move in a counterclockwise direction. At this time, the sun pinion I9 is of course stationary due both to the connected gear train and to the fact that the motor 22 cannot be energized. This counter-clockwise rotation of the internal gear 25, while the sun pinion I8 is heldstationary, results in counterclockwise rotatlon of the plate Ill and integral electrical means inoperative associated with said manual lever and operated upon movement of said manual lever out of a central position on said selector plate whereby movement of said manual lever out of its central position renders said electrical means inoperative and immediately causes movement of said member to be positioned.

4. In combination, a rotatable member to be positioned, planet pinions pivotally carried thereby at points equally spaced from the axis of rotation of said rotatable member, a sun pinion rotatably mounted within and constantly meshing with said planet pinions, electrical means permanently connected to said sun pinion for driving the same, an internal gear surrounding and permanently meshing with said planet pinions, a pivoted manual means permanently connected to said internal gear for manually rotating the same, said pivoted manual means having a normal position and being movable about its pivot in a single plane in either direction away from its normal position, and switch means for rendering said electrical means inoperative, associated with said manual means and operated upon movement thereof out of its normal po ition in either direction whereby movement of said manual means in a single direction out of its normal position renders said electrical means inoperative and immediately rotates said member to be positioned.

JOHN M. WILSON. 

